Starting with Alice

Eight-year-old Alice McKinley navigates the universal anxieties of being the new kid in this foundational chapter book that kicks off a beloved series. As she adjusts to third grade in Takoma Park, Maryland, Alice's wish list is both relatable and poignant: she longs for pierced ears, long hair, a pet, and, most achingly, a mother. Her only acquaintance is her peculiar next-door neighbor, a boy named Donald Sheavers, leaving her desperate to connect with other girls her age, a quest that proves more complicated than she anticipated.

Naylor perfectly captures the small-scale social dramas of elementary school, where the simple act of making friends can feel like a high-stakes mission. Alice's earnest voice and very real vulnerabilities—from her longing for a maternal figure to her clumsy attempts at fitting in—will resonate deeply with any reader who has ever felt like an outsider. This is an honest and comforting start to a series that grows with its readers, offering a timeless look at the challenges of finding your place.